CVE-2008-5542: Sunbelt VIPRE 3.1.1832.2 and possibly 3.1.1633.1, when Internet Explorer 6 or 7 is used, allows remote attacke

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HIGH 9.3DOWNGRADE

CVE-2008-5542 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 9.3) affecting vipre. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Sunbelt VIPRE 3.1.1832.2 and possibly 3.1.1633.1, when Internet Explorer 6 or 7 is used, allows remote attackers to bypass detection of malware in an HTML document by placing an MZ header (aka "EXE info") at the beginning, and modifying the filename to have (1) no extension, (2) a .txt extension, or (3) a .jpg extension, as demonstrated by a document containing a CVE-2006-5745 exploit.

Why this priority

Critical severity

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.3 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	1.9% (top 20%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-20
Published	2008-12-12
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: sunbeltsoftware

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2008-12-12 18:30 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:00 UTCUpdated Record last modified

sunbeltsoftware vipre DOWNGRADE

Affected: 3.1.1633.1 · 3.1.1832.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.1.1633.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy vipre || rpm -q vipre || vipre --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.1.1633.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison vipre sudo apt install vipre=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.1.1633.1> sudo apt-mark hold vipre

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list vipre sudo dnf downgrade vipre-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.1.1633.1> sudo dnf versionlock add vipre

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2008-5542?

vipre: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2008-5542 being exploited?

CVE-2008-5542 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2008-5542 affect?

CVE-2008-5542 affects vipre. Severity is high (CVSS 9.3). Sunbelt VIPRE 3.1.1832.2 and possibly 3.1.1633.1, when Internet Explorer 6 or 7 is used, allows remote attackers to bypass detection of malware in an HTML document by placing an MZ header (aka "EXE info") at the beginning, and modifying the

How urgent is CVE-2008-5542?

Priority 53/100. Critical severity

Software pages

Internet Explorer vulnerabilities

References

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